Marvel’s big annual event wraps up this week. The next few reviews will be of “Secret Invasion: X-Men,” “Secret Invasion: Front Line,” “New Avengers #42-47,” and Secret Invasion: Home Invasion, all of which are now complete. The remaining unreviewed tie-ins (with the “Secret Invasion” brand, rather than “Dark Reign”) will be reviewed as they come out, followed by a review of the entire miniseries as a whole.

General Information

Detailed coverage of all applicable issues of all Secret Invasion related titles can be found at this address. Now that the event is over, I’ll try to set aside some time this month to get it all updated as need be.

Premise

This is the end of the battle against the Skrulls, and it’s not without its consequences. At least one hero does not survive, and the public perception of what makes a hero changes once more.

High Point

“Thing is — I don’t know if the skrulls, for all their planning, truly understand us. As humans. Because I think if they did, they’d know that shether or not a stunt like that would have worked… whoever survived… whoever was left… would be insanely ticked off.”

Low Point

They’re all just standing there, ready to walk out?

The Scores

The originality of this series has been an issue. For the bulk of the mini, it’s a great big fight including everybody, which is something we’ve seen before many times. (Virtually every summer since “Secret Wars” hit 25 years ago, in fact.) However, none of those minis left the Marvel universe in the state this one left the Marvel universe in. I give it 5 out of 6 for the way the second half plays out.

The artwork is solid, with clear depictions of the action and events, and a few choice details that I spotted on the second read. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story in this issue has more clear plot movement than the issues that lead up to it. Once the fight is over, the aftermath starts to play out, setting up the new Marvel universe status quo, and it’s a big shift, with all the necessary clues needed to set it up and predict sprinkled throughout the issues that came before it. I give it 5 out of 6.

The characterization is much like it has been; short in character moments for many people, but little depth for others. There’s really one character who takes centre stage in this one, and the rest are merely touched on. I won’t reveal that character here for fear of spoiling things for those who didn’t predict it, but if you read the review(s) of that character’s regular title we’ve had here on the Bureau, you’ll know that the hints were there. I give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response was great. You know it’s a big ending when you see it coming weeks or months away and you’re still excited by it. I give it 6 out of 6.

The flow is smooth once more. The bulk of the series takes place in a very compressed time frame, and this is no exception. The last few pages have a few time shifts, but similarities in conversation guide the reader from one to the next quite smoothly. I give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, this is a solid and satisfying end to the series. What started out as a giant fight ends in a way that naturally changes the Marvel universe. I give it 5 out of 6.